Kareem J. Newton, 45, was fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle in downtown Los Angeles on April 8, 2026. The shooting happened at East Fifth and South Crocker streets just before midnight when an unknown man approached the car where Newton sat with a female companion and opened fire. The woman was not physically harmed. Paramedics transported Newton to a local hospital, but he died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen; the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide and his pronouncement came on April 9, 2026.

Family members described Newton as a loving and devoted father to seven children who loved music and fashion; his sister Jasmine Jones started a GoFundMe for funeral expenses and said those who knew him well saw a good heart despite a street life image. Separate reports note Newton had a significant criminal history in San Bernardino County, including arrests for stalking and robbery. The suspect remains at large and no motive has been released; the Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation is ongoing.

If anyone was in the downtown area near East Fifth and South Crocker on the night of April 8, does any detail about the shooting or the person who approached the car help the investigation?